The Silver Neckwarmer

I have been looking for the perfect cowl pattern this winter, and I knew what yarn to use. Some lovely soft Malabrigo Silky Merino yarn in my stash just yearned to become some kind of neckwarmer. I found a pattern on Ravelry.

Twisted Rib Neckwarmer

I don't have much experience with Malabrigo other than the Malabrigo Lace that I use for the Garter Stitch Baby Kimono. But as you know it's soft soft soft, and no one can really claim that it itches. I'm curious about how it keeps shape over time, though...

Mini Icarus

3 skeins (=183 m)of Phildar Phil Soie 100% pure silk are transformed into this little scarf.


I followed the instructions for Icarus Shawl by Miriam L. Felton and modified it by leaving out numerous pattern repeats.


I love the combination of yarn and pattern. The color is warm and the silk makes a fabulous shiny look.



I've thought about knitting the Icarus Shawl for a long time, and now I'm convinced that I want to knit another one full size.

Digging Out My Summer Tweed

I've started knitting a cardigan using the highly popular February Lady Sweater pattern as a guide. I wanted to try knitting from the top but not doing raglan increases. Instead I'm doing a rounded yoke. Also, I'm considering to knit the body in St st rather than using the lace pattern.




The yarn is Rowan Summer Tweed (70 % silk and 30 % cotton), a birthday present from Karin. She gave it to me last year in August and now is the perfect time to use it. I'm thinking about adding some big buttons, maybe these white ones... I'm not sure.

Knitted Christmas Presents #2

Two pairs of socks were gifted away this Christmas.



These are the fabulous Gentleman's Shooting Stockings by Nancy Bush made for my father. I really like the stitch pattern which makes the socks a bit more sophisticated than regular, plain men's socks.


The yarn is soft like a dream (contains silk) so I'll definately use it again.

Pattern: Gentleman's Shooting Stockings with Fluted Pattern by Nancy Bush from Knitting Vintage Socks
Yarn: Regia Silk 4-ply by Schachenmayr nomotta
Needles: 2 mm

The second pair are these striped socks, almost knee length, for my niece. She's 5 years old so I thought she would like these color tones.



Pattern: None
Yarn: Ranco Multy by Araucania and some gray sock yarn from my stash.
Needles: 2,5 mm

Knitted Christmas Presents #1

I'll start this years blogging by showing off some of the presents I made this Christmas. In this post it'll be two scarfs.



For my mother I knitted this triangular shawl or scarf following this pattern, Silk Kerchief by Kate Gagnon. Simple but lovely. I made a lace border pretty much similar to the border on Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn Clark. (Both patterns are free). I saw another Silk Kerchief with an added border and was inspired to make one too.



I used two different alpaca yarns (one hand dyed) to make the stripes. Both of them are 100% alpaca resulting in a so so soft scarf.




Pattern: Silk Kerchief by Kate Gagnon (pdf here)
Yarn: Atacama by Araucania Yarns (Unfortunately I've lost the information for the solid yarn)
Needles: 3.5 mm

The other scarf is this one for my grandmother.



Another simple pattern, Old Shale Scarf by Tiennie. I made it in a soft wool and silk blend.



Pattern: Old Shale Scarf by Tiennie (pdf here)
Yarn: DUO Silke/Merino by Design.club.dk
Needles: 4 mm

Midnight Blue Swallowtail

The Swallowtail Shawl is done and I really enjoyed this knit. Well, maybe except from the nupps. Or rather the first couple of rows with nupps. I had to make the loops extremely loose in order to make them, and once I even managed to tug the yarn so hard that it broke. I was actually about to give up and just leave out the nupps but after a while I got the hang of it. Fortunately, it wasn’t that difficult after all.

The yarn is half wool and half silk and not stretchy at all. This is a very good explanation why the nupps were so hard to make. If I knit this shawl again, which I’m really positive about, I think I’ll go for a more supple yarn even though I really love how this shawl turned out. The silk makes it smell sooo good! And the dark blue color with the lighter blue specks is gorgeous. A shawl perfect for a chilly summer night or day.

The color in the last photo is closest to the real one!


Pattern: Swallowtail Shawl (pdf) from Interweave Knits, Fall 2006

Designer: Evelyn A. Clark

Yarn: Silkwool (unfortunately no further details!)